April 21, 2006 - The Austin Chronicle

austinchronicle.com | APRIL 21, 2006 | THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE | 311COSTS TOO MUCH2 & Environmentalists andGOES TOO FARTruth and EducationDemocrats Unitedfor Charter AmendmentCharter Amendments 1 & 2:Requires the city to post all incoming and outgoingemails on the internet in real time, at an estimated costof $36 million up front plus $12 million per yearRequires city officials and employees to immediatelyreport details of every telephone call and every meeting,including meals and “happy hours”Establishes broad new restrictions on cityinvestments and economic development effortsoutside of the Barton Springs watershedDoesn’t strengthen the SOS ordinance, doesn’tallow the city to negotiate for improved environmentalprotections, and doesn’t stop AMDDaryl Slusher:“These amendments are sloppily andcarelessly written. This will lead to numerousunintended consequences and is a lose-losefor the environmental community.”Lee Leffingwell:“If approved, these amendments could costtaxpayers $33,000 every single day of theweek, preventing us from investing in openspace, parks, and affordable housing.”We are proud Austin environmentalists andprogressives who strongly support protectingwater quality and promoting open government,but believe that Amendments 1 & 2 are poorlywritten and will have negative, unintendedconsequences for our whole community. Westrongly encourage you to educate yourselfbefore casting your vote in May by reading bothof these Amendments in their entirety at:www.educatepac.orgRaul AlvarezJon BeallMike BlizzardJeb BoytValarie BristolGeorge CoferJim CousarCecilia CrossleyFred EllisGlenn GadboisGus GarciaJack GoodmanJackie GoodmanCharlie McCabeMary Ann NeelySusan RieffChris RileyTed Siff“NOT GOOD FOR AUSTIN” SAY:Political advertisement paid for by EDUCATE PAC, Ted Siff, 815-A Brazos #218, Austin, Texas, Treasurer.Central Austin Democrats, West Austin Democrats,Capital Area Progressive Democrats, Austin Parks Foundation,Austin Progressive Coalition,* University Democrats**opposes Amendment 1